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Myanmar steps up border security ahead of elections
Myanmar has stepped up border security along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border in an attempt to prevent possible violence during the election period, according to Maungdaw District police force.

A joint team comprising police and army personnel has begun conducting inspections and patrols in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.

“The November 8 election is drawing near. We are carrying out round-the-clock inspections and patrolling wards in Maungdaw, which shares a border with Bangladesh, in order to expose destructive acts, illegal arms possession and the narcotic drug trade. We are under the close supervision of the head of the district police force, and we are cooperating with the army,” said a police officer from Maungdaw.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoted an unnamed military officer as saying the army will deploy 12 battalions in Rakhine and Chin states, which border Bangladesh, during the upcoming elections.

On October 18, fights between an unnamed armed group and the Bangladesh army occurred near the Chittagong region, causing casualties. The Bangladesh army has sent troops to the Myanmar border, a Bangladeshi newspapers reported.